 Political party representatives give speeches to Northern Territories Day rally On Japan's "Northern Territories Day" on February 7, a national rally was held in Tokyo to call for the return of the Russian-held territories. Representatives of political parties for the first time gave speeches in the 25th national rally which was attended by about 1,500 people Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo said that Japan's position on the territorial talks with Russia should above all else be based on justice, namely by rectifying Stalin's territorial expansionism. He stated that the JCP calls for the whole of the Chishima Islands to be returned to Japan. (See separate item) Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro sent a message to the rally, stating that the government policy is one of settling the question of the title to the four islands, followed by conclusion of a peace treaty. Representatives of the Komei Party and the Democratic Party of Japan called for the four islands to be returned. The Democratic Party of Japan's Hatoyama Yukio said that the party will work for the day when the islands are returned. Four former residents of the Russian-held islands said that they want to return to the islands while they are still alive. The meeting was sponsored by the organizing committee consisting of the Cabinet and citizens organizations. (end) |